Most people are familiar with the SEVEN DEADLY SINS, but few know of the VIRTUES designed to counter them!

 Here you will find a brief Explanation of each of the sins as well as the opposing virtues.

The Roman Catholic church recognized the seven capital virtues as opposites to the Seven Capital Sins or the Seven Deadly Sins. The sins have an order of greatness, and the virtues a respective order of greatness as well. This order is shown below from the lowest to the highest.

 

Sin                                                    Virtue

Lust (excessive sexual appetites)        Chastity (purity)

Gluttony (over-indulgence)                 Temperance (self-restraint)

Greed (avarice)                                  Charity (giving)

Sloth (laziness/idleness)                     Diligence (zeal/integrity/Labour)

Wrath (anger)                                    Forgiveness (composure)

Envy (jealousy)                                  Kindness (admiration)

Pride (vanity)                                     Humility (humbleness)

 

The Seven Deadly Sins:

Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride

  1. Lust– An insatiable need for sex or things of a sexual nature. This includes thoughts, desires, and actions. If this need is unfed, it can lead to masturbation, rape, and even bestiality. Lust is fed by any of the aforementioned means or viewing pornography.
  2. Gluttony– Over endulgences of anything to the extreme, usually food or drink. Alcoholism is considered part of Gluttony. Drug abuse, Gluttony.
  3. Greed– Greed is the need for material possessions or material wealth. If this need is unfed, a Greedy person may even resort to hoarding their goods, theft, robbery, or obtaining any material possessions by means of trickery, violence, deception, or manipulation. Greedy people usually are easy to bribe or will take any bet or do anything for a dollar.
  4. Sloth– Sadness, depression, or the inability to feel joy. Sloth is often confused with Gluttony, though I don’t know why. Those who suffer from depression to an extreme usually have thoughts of or plans for suicide. Many times, Sloth can lead to another sin: Wrath. Those who have lost or lack love, usually fall into a deep state of Sloth.
  5. Wrath– Extreme anger, rage, hatred, or a need for vengeance or revenge. People who suffer with Wrath issues will often resort to taking the law in their own hands if they feel the justice system has failed them. To feed the need of Wrath, they may even turn to physical abuse of themself or others, murder, or even genocide. Wrath usually is a need to do harm to others. Dante described Wrath as “love of justice perverted to revenge and spite” according to the Wikipedia.
  6. Envy– The need to have better or be better than others. The need to have the goods of others. Wanting what others have for yourself. Many times, someone with extreme Envious needs may turn to voyeurism to feed the need to see what others have that the envious want.
  7. Pride– Once considered a need to be the most beautiful, Pride can also mean a need for public acceptance in all acts. Pride can also be a need to be more important than others. Those who suffer with Pride issues, usually fail to give due complements to others, but instead fish for complements for themselves. They find ways to be better than those around them and usually have a “One Up” story. Pride is said to be the original and most deadly of the seven sins, leading straight to damnation.

The Seven Heavenly Virtues:

Chastity, Abstinence, Liberality, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, and Humility

  1. 1. Chastity- Courage and boldness. Embracing of moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of thought through education and betterment.
  2. Abstinence– Constant mindfulness of others and one’s surroundings; practicing self-control, abstention, and moderation.
  3. Liberality– Generosity. Willingness to give. A nobility of thought or actions.
  4. Diligence– A zealous and careful nature in one’s actions and work. Decisive work ethic. Budgeting one’s time; monitoring one’s own activities to guard against laziness.

 

  1. Patience- Forbearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence. The ability to forgive; to show mercy to sinners.
  2. Kindness– Charity, compassion, friendship, and sympathy without prejudice and for its own sake.
  3. Humility– Modest behaviour, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one’s own self. Modest behaviour, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one’s own self.